WEST LANCASHIRE
26 May 2021
Vol 28 l Issue 21
A MOTORCYCLIST was seriously injured after a collision on a main road in Ormskirk. The accident happened on St Helens Road at the junction with Scarth Hill Lane at 1.35pm on Tuesday, May 18 when a Suzuki GSF motorcycle was in a collision with a Ford Focus car. The motorcyclist, a man in his 50s from Liverpool, was taken to hospital with serious leg and arm injuries. The driver of the Focus, a man in his 70s, did not suffer any serious injuries. Police are now appealing for any witnesses or anybody with dashcam or CCTV footage which could help with their investigation to come forward. Sgt Laura Kendall, of Lancashire Police’s Tactical Operations, said: “This collision has left a man with serious injuries and we need to establish exactly what has gone on. “I would ask anybody with information or footage which could assist our enquiries to please get in touch.” Anyone with information is asked to email 4446@lancashire.police.uk or call 101, quoting log 0845 of May 18, 2021.
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GPS THEFTS ‘HUGE COST TO FARMERS’
Special rural police task force launched to deal with the rising problem of high-tech criminals Report by Henry James
A SPECIAL rural task force has been set up by Lancashire Police to deal with the rising problem of rural crime which has had an impact on farmers in West Lancashire. Thieves in West Lancashire are targeting farms in the area and stealing Global Positioning System (GPS) guidance systems on a regular basis, which are costing farmers thousands of pounds. N ot only is the technology expensive to replace, but the units also store vital farm data and are essential for modern day tractors and combines to work effectively. When thieves targeted the Molyneux Kale Company on Asmall Lane in Scarisbrick on Monday, May 10, they also took the engine management system, meaning the tractor can no longer be driven. As the tractor is an essential tool for the farm, Chris Molyneux, who owns the company, has been forced to rent another at a cost of £1,000 a week until his own is fixed. Welcoming Lancashire Constabulary’s formation of
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In August 2020, Lisa had her GPS system stolen off the top of a combine that was locked away in a shed. They took the dome from the top as well as the screen. She’s now advising fellow farmers in the county to tag and mark all of their equipment, make themselves known to the new rural task force and lock everything away at night – although sadly this does not always deter the thieves. Lisa’s combine was locked away in a shed, but they still managed to break in. Lisa said: “We didn’t dare take the dome off the top of the combine late at night in the dark due to health and safety concerns. “It’s very high and you’d need a ladder. That did not stop the thieves though. Our combine was out of Chris Molyneux’s farm action for two days and cost £8,500 was targeted by thieves. to replace. “I’d urge all farmers to lock special rural task force teams at Morecambe, Garstang, everything away and in the first instance ask the new Ormskirk, Clitheroe and Waterfoot, the National Farm- rural task force for one of their extremely helpful advice ers’ Union (N FU) says tackling GPS theft needs to be sheets. one of the new 20 officers’ priorities. “We also move equipment around the farm so the NFU Lancashire County Chair Lisa Edwards who farms thieves can’t accurately predict where it will be.” at Gore House Farm in Lydiate, has also been a victim of Chief Inspector Chris Hardy is leading the special rural this crime. At a meeting on her farm on Monday, May task force team and told the Champion: “We have made 24, she met the new rural officers stationed at Ormskirk significant investment to create the bespoke teams who to raise this issue as a matter of importance. Continued inside
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